How Much Do You Know About Blood Pressure?

What exactly is blood pressure?

Arteries carry blood from your heart to the rest of the body, and the "pressure" is the force of the blood against artery walls. Blood is pumped out of the heart into the arteries each time the heart beats, at which time your blood pressure is at its highest. This is referred to as systolic pressure. Your blood pressure falls when the heart is resting between beats, and this is referred to as diastolic pressure.

Your blood pressure is made up of both the systolic (top) and diastolic (bottom) pressure numbers, for example 100/70.

When you are awake and standing still or not being active, your blood pressure usually remains the same. Anything above 120/80 is considered high, because your heart has to work harder and you have a greater chance of a stroke or heart attack. Specifically, 120-139/80-89 is considered Pre-Hypertension, greater than 140/90 is Hypertension, 140-159/90-99 is Stage 1 Hypertension, and 160 or greater/100 or greater is Stage 2 Hypertension.

Fortunately, blood pressure can be lowered with lifestyle changes such as:

• Getting regular exercise
• Limiting alcohol
• Quitting smoking
• Reducing sodium intake
• Eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and low in saturated fat

Sometimes drugs are used to treat high blood pressure, including beta-blockers, diuretics, calcium channel blockers, receptor blockers and more.

Once your blood pressure has been regulated, you should still visit your doctor every few months to make sure that things are still under control.  Ultimately, the only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked regularly--this way, you can find out if you need to correct any potential problems before they get too serious.

The Importance of Backpack Safety for Kids

Kids have been wearing backpacks to school for a long time.  These days, there are no shortage of styles, colors and fabrics available.

Compared to other types of bags, backpacks are a good choice because their weight is supported by the abdominal and back muscles, which are some of the strongest in the body.  A backpack's weight is evenly distributed across the body if the backpack is worn correctly.

However, if they are not worn correctly or are too heavy, they can cause back pain or strain the joints or muscles.  When a heavy backpack is incorrectly placed on the shoulders, the weight can cause a child to pull their body back.  In order to compensate, a child may bend forward which can end up causing the spine to become compressed.

Here are some safety tips to make sure your child doesn't run into trouble due to their backpack.

Doctors and physical therapists actually recommend that kids carry no more than 10% to 15% of their body weight in their backpacks. Additionally, when buying a new backpack it's a good idea to go for more lightweight packs, such as ones made of canvas instead of leather.

The shoulder straps are also important, and should be padded and wide as thinner straps tend to dig into the shoulders.  Kids should be encouraged to wear both straps on the shoulders instead of just one.

Packs with multiple compartments also help to distribute weight evenly, as do packs that come with a waist belt.  Kids can also avoid backpack injuries by picking up the pack the right way---by bending at the knees and grabbing the pack with both hands when putting it on their shoulders.

Finally, encourage kids to use their desk or locker throughout the day instead of carrying a full day's worth of books in their backpack, and to bring home only the books needed for homework at night.

Backpack safety is one of the topics covered in Allegheny Medical's WellnessCare lecture series. For more information, please contact us at (412) 494-4554.

February is American Heart Month

Since 1963, February has been recognized by the American Heart Association as American Heart Month.  It was designated as such because cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of people in the United States.  Coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack, is the most common heart disease.

American Heart Month is observed in order to increase increase awareness of cardiovascular diseases and raise funds for research. Throughout the month, healthy habits are encouraged and emphasized as a means of prevention.

According to the CDC, being heart healthy means choosing healthy foods. Some of their recommendations include selecting low-fat dairy products, drinking alcohol in moderation, cutting back on sugar, eating less than 300 mg of cholesterol per day, choosing foods with very little or no salt and eating lean poultry and meats without the skin.

Additionally, it is also recommended that individuals exercise regularly, control their weight, avoid tobacco and maintain healthy blood pressure, blood glucose and cholesterol levels.

The importance of knowing the symptoms of a heart attack are also stressed by the CDC. Usually heart attacks begin slowly, with mild discomfort. However, some are intense and sudden. Here are some of the specific signs that may signal that a heart attack is occurring:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest discomfort
• Arm, stomach, neck, back or jaw discomfort
• Nausea, lightheadedness or cold sweat

Women account for nearly 50% of heart disease deaths in the United States.  Several  lifestyle choices and medical conditions put women at a greater risk for heart disease, including cigarette smoking, poor diet, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and physical inactivity.

Exercise, eating right and knowing more about heart diseases are great places to start.  Take some time this month to think about your own heart, and what you can do to ensure it stays healthy and strong for a lifetime.